Susie Steiner, English Author of Acclaimed Crime Novels, Dies at 51

On July 2, acclaimed English author Susie Steiner died at age 51. She was best known for her crime/detective novel series, Missing, Presumed (2016), Persons Unknown (2017), and most recently, Remain Silent (2020). Her series of novels popularly featured quirky detective Manon Bradshaw.

Steiner had to contend with the loss of eyesight and was later diagnosed with a brain tumor three years ago.

Steiner’s Early Life

Susie Steiner grew up in North London and studied at Henrietta Barnet School. At an early age, she developed an interest in creative writing. Her favorite authors included Brontes, Austen, George Elliot, and Thomas Hardy.

Susie Steiner’s Career

Susie began her journalism career as a reporter for the Guardian for 11 years but later left to pursue writing fiction full-time. “Homecoming” was her first book published in 2013 in the UK. After Steiner was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma in 2019, she admitted that reading was the most valuable pass time in hospital and during chemotherapy.

In an article she wrote in the Independent in 2016, Steiner notes that her loss of eyesight increased her creative output as a novelist. Her appreciation of and remarkable insight into the undercurrents of human nature made her a witty character full of life and a critically acclaimed and bestselling author.

Fictitious Character Detective Manon Bradshaw

A fan once asked Susie Steiner how similar she was to her fictitious character, sergeant Manon, and she said the detective was 98.34% like her, while the rest was pure invention.

Although she was joking, her character represented her understanding of the dynamics between different people and her commitment to exploring questions of equality and justice. As a prolific writer, she was alive to the complexities of people’s desires and their frailties, and this helped her to animate her protagonist, Detective Manon.

The three Outings of Detective Manon

Detective Manon had three outings, as animated by English author Susie Steiner. First was Missing, Presumed, which featured the abduction of a young woman; her well-to-do parents were close friends with the home secretary, a situation that placed the investigating team under intense pressure to solve the case.

The second book, Persons Unknown, shows Manon Bradshaw’s adopted black son placed under arrest as a murder suspect; a real case inspired it. The Third book, Remain Silent, explores a gruesome death among the Lithuanian migrant worker community; at the same time, Bradshaw has to contend with her partner’s cancer diagnosis.

Author Tributes to Acclaimed Writer Susie Steiner

Fans and authors alike feel deeply saddened by the loss of such a talented writer. Susie was a funny and attentive friend with fans all across the world. And the author community feels a profound loss for the absence of the work she had planned to write. But at the same time, they are grateful that she leaves her voice in her four exceptional novels.

Her family will especially miss her, as she was a loving mother of two boys she raised with her husband, Tom. These three were always the center of her world, even as she battled cancer.

In a tribute by her UK publisher, Suzie Dooré, Steiner was a wonderful person with an exceptional personality. As a friend, she had quick wits and brutal honesty, the two traits she quickly passed on to her fictitious series character, Detective Manon Bradshaw.

Top 10 Ways to Help You Get Out of a Reading Slump

It can be distressing to find yourself in a reading slump when you can’t seem to find a book that holds your attention despite the millions of books available on the market.

Are you trying to get out of a reading slump and don’t know how to? Try out these ten easy tips to help you get back to a reading culture once more.

1. Reread an old favorite novel

It’s easy to start reading a new book to pass the time, but after the first few pages, it can be just as easy to toss it aside after quickly losing attention. Sounds familiar? How about re-immersing yourself in an old favorite that you once liked?

Reading something great, such as a J.K Rowling adventure novel, will make you look forward to reading a new book and will effectively spark your curiosity once more.

2. Change Formats

While you are not physically reading per se, audiobooks are still books! Besides, if you’re not ready to read as much as you’d like, let someone else do the reading for you. Once hooked on a new audiobook, you can gradually develop excitement and transfer that excitement into reading a physical book from the same series.

3. Read a Book that you think you wouldn’t like

There’s freedom in perusing through a novel you think you won’t like; you will have no expectations as you read through, and you will not feel guilty if you stop. It’s simply a great and effective way to grow your reading potential.

4. Pick up a New Book Series

Whenever you finish reading a favorite series, it often leaves a void that could cause a potential upturn in your reading routine. Trying out a new series soon after you finish reading your current book allows you to enter a new world and give you something new to look forward to as you explore the book.

5. Peek through the first 5 to 10 pages of Multiple Books

This approach gives you an “out” if the book is not catchy or interesting enough. But it also increases your chances of an unexpected book that grabs your attention long enough to get you hooked to the last page.

6. Read a Series that inspired any of Your Favorite Authors.

Reading a book that once inspired your favorite authors will allow you to branch out while still staying within your comfortable territory. Chances are, if the book inspired your favorite author, it might inspire you too.

7. Join a book club near you

A book club will make you obligated to kick start your brain and get back into a consistent reading culture. And being able to talk about your favorite characters with your peers will effectively expand your desire to read. Your book club will also help you to look at a book differently as you listen to different opinions.

8. Take a Reading Vacation

If you can’t seem to focus on a whole chapter of your favorite book, don’t beat yourself up over it. Take a week-long break from reading to refresh your mind, and get back to reading once you’re ready. Think of it as taking a break from work or school.

9. Browse through the Children’s Book Shelf

Children’s books have simpler prose than novels, and they have bright colors and visual graphics, and text stories. But most importantly, they bring a sense of wonder and easily spark the interest to read on.

10. Read a Short Book

There are no rules that say you have to read a long novel. Pick a short story or novella and see if it ignites a spark within you.

Hopefully, a combination of these tips can help you get back to your reading culture with a bit of luck and patience.